Southern Illinois University
University of Illinois/Illinois State University (WOMEN)
Women's Team to Meet Illinois and Illinois State
10/28/2021 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Swimming is back in action inside Shea Natatorium at SIU's Student Recreation Center on Friday, October 29 where the Saluki women's team will battle Big Ten Illinois and MVC opponent Illinois State at 5pm. The meet will be streamed via SIU's Student Recreation Center's Facebook live, while live times are available via Meet Mobile.
SIU-ILLINOIS / ILLINOIS STATE HISTORY
In tri-meet in-state action, the Salukis, Fighting Illini, and Redbirds have not met since 2019 in Champaign-Urbana.
Illinois holds the upper hand against SIU all-time, 2-18. The last meeting on October 17, 2019 resulted in a 123-176 loss to the Saluki women, with individual wins from senior Eden Girloanta (500-free, 1000-free) and fifth-year Sierra Forbord (100-free).
Heading into the Dawgs' second Valley competition of the season, SIU sees a 6-3 overall record over Illinois State since 1996. The Redbirds finished fourth in the 2021 Missouri Valley Championships with a school-high 444 points and first-place finishes on both diving events by senior Caroline LeCoeur. The Salukis overcame the 'Birds 187-113 in the pool during the 2019 tri-meet, while also taking reigns on 2021's senior meet with Evansville, 178-119.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Blue and Orange finished last season 1-3 in dual meets and a 12th place finish at the Big Ten Championships in Minneapolis filled in with 40 lifetime bests, nine top-ten all-time program finishes, and a school record. With a canceled dual against Michigan State, the Illini found their lone win against Nebraska, 164-136, in January. In the fall, the Fighting Illini have seen growth, starting off 2-1, topping over fellow MVC member Indiana State 184.5-98.5, and UIC, 230-70.
With the loss of MVC Diver of the Year, Caroline LeCoeur, the Redbirds still saw six earn medals on day two of the MVC Championships. The freshman quartet of Olivia Gonder, Raegen Follis, Diana Walker, and Mikayla Jasek earned bronze medals in the 800-free relay (7:31.62), with sophomore Emily Keebler taking silver in the 400-IM (4:26.49) and sophomore Madyson Morse clocking in 1:02.39 in the 100-breast for a third place finish. ISU finished the 2020-21 season 4-1 in the Valley.
LAST TIME OUT
The women's program has seen the growth and projection thus far, throttling Division II McKendree 139-60, and coming close to Mizzou 95-145 the last meet weekend. Most notably in the season was the women's first dual win over MVC rival Missouri State, 187-166, for the first time since 2015. Freshman backstroker Celia Pulido has stood out in the Maroon and White, owning the school record in the 200-back (1:56.70), while holding seven individual title wins. The Salukis have seen the power of the 2021 newcomer class, with performances from Ali Robertson (100-breast - 1:04.38), Jules Atkinson (200-fly - 2:06.05), and Jasmine Rau (100-fly - 56.62). On the boards, Egypt-native Farida Moussa has lead SIU with three titles, including both one- and three-meter at Missouri State.
WEEKLY WINNERS
The 20 days since the Salukis' last dual, senior diver Laura Mircea was named the MVC's Diver of the Week back on October 13. The first weekly award for the Canadian, Mircea dove her career-best 253.13 on the one-meter to earn the runner-up spot against McKendree Friday afternoon. The Ontario-native placed third on the one-meter (230.63) against Mizzou Saturday, while diving a first-place 246.60 against the SEC powerhouse on the three-meter -- the first first-place title of her collegiate career.
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Players Mentioned
